
Defective Products
Verdict: $3.3 Million
Construction Product Defect – Faulty Shoring
Lower Back Disc Injury and Post -Traumatic Stress Disorder
A 53-year-old cement mason was injured in the collapse of a four-million gallon digester tank in the middle of a construction site. We were able to demonstrate that defective shoring was the underlying cause of the accident and the back injuries he sustained while escaping the collapse. Part of the complexity of the case involved our client’s extensive medical history of multiple trauma-related injuries. The defense insurance company’s highest offer in settlement was $15,000. We went to trial and were able to obtain a $3.3 million jury award for our client.
Settlement: $750,000
Defective Product Design - Horse-Drawn Carriage Rollover
Shoulder Injuries
While staying at a Santa Barbara-area resort, our client was riding a horse-drawn carriage which overturned when its wooden wheels buckled. The injuries he sustained required multiple surgeries on both shoulders. To obtain compensation for his injuries, we investigated and gathered evidence on previous accidents and manufacturing practices by the Canadian carriage maker. Our determined representation led to negotiating a $750,000 settlement for our client right before trial was scheduled to begin.
Settlement: $450,000
Defective Glass Vase
Serious Hand Injury
Our client, an attorney, received flowers that were delivered in a vase. When he went to replenish the water, the glass shattered and the shards severed his dominant hand. In the course of our investigation and representation, we discovered the failure of the Chinese manufacturer to control the quality of the glass and also held the distributors responsible for the injuries inflicted upon our client.
Settlement: $75,000
Defective Recreational Product
Facial Injuries to Child
We represented an 8-year-old child who was at Tumbleweed day camp. The counselors strapped him onto the Tumblewheel, a contraption which is a miniature Ferris wheel. The seat belt broke and the boy fell into a tear in the mesh. This caused his face to rub against the surface of the ground as the wheel spun and he sustained severe facial scrapes.